At 17, Daija Thompson was deeply concerned in her religion and had a household full of affection and care.
And, nonetheless, she despaired over the alternatives different 17-year-olds have been making.
What adopted was “Discovering Your Id: Affirmation, Declaration & Imaginative and prescient,” a e-book that made the Washington Heights resident a rarity – a teen creator.
Thompson, now 19, grew up collaborating within the Larger Religion Outreach Ministries and, from there, the first-generation creator mentioned she was capable of uncover her personal id and publish her e-book at 17 in July 2020.
Her quest started along with her personal confusion throughout her highschool years when suicidal individuals got here to her for assist. “I come from a house of affection and affection. I by no means needed to expertise neglect, ache or psychological abuse,” Thompson mentioned.
Thompson wrote the e-book so, she mentioned, readers might let God’s affirmations in Scripture assist outline their identities as an alternative of their circumstances. The 107-page e-book is a information to discovering id by way of God’s phrase.
So how does an adolescent write a e-book?
Thompson wrote hers in 4 months. She felt it was pressing for her to publish it shortly as COVID-19 surged and other people have been remoted at dwelling stewing in what have been, for a lot of, nerve-racking conditions.
She mentioned she needed one thing printed so individuals might retrieve phrases which may assist any time they wanted it.
“This phrase that God is giving me to talk might in the end change their lives,” Thompson mentioned.
Her mom, Monae Ellis, helped conduct surveys asking individuals, “Who’re you?” Responses contained normal solutions they weren’t on the lookout for comparable to being a mom, entrepreneur, and so forth.
“That’s not who you might be, that’s what you do,” Ellis mentioned.
Folks aren’t outlined by that, Thompson mentioned.
“The issues God says that you’re, then that’s what we’re. You might be lovely. You might be royalty, You might be sensible!” she mentioned.
Thompson makes use of Scripture to again up the affirmations within the e-book. Affirmations are phrases that have an effect on your life in optimistic methods.
Thompson aspired to attend Spelman School, a traditionally Black liberal arts faculty for ladies in Atlanta, Georgia.
She gave up that dream, spending weary nights typing 5 pages a day into Google Docs and researching publishing corporations.
There was an issue, nevertheless. Nobody she knew had information about the best way to publish books.
Her analysis led Thompson to the self-publishing platform, Amazon Kindle Direct. In keeping with its web site, authors can rise up to 70% of royalties.
The platform took care of publishing and transport the paperback books, so Thompson didn’t have to fret about that.
To have interaction readers, Thompson spent $500 on pens, customized bookmarks and shirts with the affirmations within the e-book on it.
She used family and friends in picture shoots to mannequin her attire for the e-book. Her readers might order instantly from her by way of Instagram and Fb. Then she would ship it out herself.
Creator copies have been $3.18 every from Amazon Kindle Direct, so, Thompson, by this time a Marquette College scholar, purchased 150 copies to promote herself. She took journeys to hair care companies and malls to advertise the e-book.
For skilled modifying, her grandmother, Yolonda Thompson, pitched in by directing her granddaughter to a studying intervention specialist at Chicago Public Faculties, Shalonda Johnson.
Johnson mentioned she thought Daija was nicely forward of her time and was coachable.
“I’ve met with and browse many books from many alternative authors, most of which have been a lot older than Daija, however she was completely different. Her e-book was completely different. I appreciated her knowledge,” Johnson mentioned.
At one level, Johnson was conducting Zoom and FaceTime calls with Thompson from the hospital as a result of she was giving delivery to a fragile child at 24 weeks. They managed, nevertheless, to make the fixes they needed within the e-book.
In keeping with Thompson, the e-book has bought in 11 states and in Jamaica.
“I used to be very thrilled that she had the foresight to acknowledge the issues that younger women needs to be attuned to, to make themselves optimistic younger women,” mentioned the creator’s grandmother, Yolanda Thompson.
Ellis mentioned she feels blessed that she was capable of assist her daughter turn into an creator.
Daija Thompson used yet one more occasion in her life for inspiration. Within the Pentecostal Church buildings of the Apostolic Religion group, she as soon as sang behind gospel singer Marvin Sapp and met gospel artists Kierra Sheard and Todd Dulaney, who was her greatest inspiration.
Dulaney advised her how he gave up his baseball profession to do God’s work. Thompson felt she was in the same state of affairs and that it was her second to remain in Milwaukee to assist her group. And so she did.
Thompson is now a monetary advocate for the Mental Health Emergency Center, a county facility at 1525 N. twelfth St. set to open in September. She mentioned she intends on publishing one other e-book, “Monetary Wellness 101,” within the fall and retiring at 30.
“Work now and luxuriate in later.” That’s what Thompson mentioned she must execute to realize a number of streams of revenue to be a millionaire.
In June, Thompson attained her license to be an actual property agent. By the top of the yr, she hopes to begin an Airbnb enterprise.
She is now serving to three different women write their very own books.
“I knew individuals have been impressed by that,” Thompson mentioned.
For extra info
You possibly can order copies of Thompson’s e-book on Amazon.
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